Chartered in 1950, Troop 4 is one of the oldest sponsored Boy Scout troops in Suffolk County hosted by the St. James Episcopal Church. Troop 4 has the distinction of awarding over 50 Scouts the rank of Eagle since 1950.

The troop currently meets every Wednesday night during the school year from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.(with a few exceptions) at the Brookhaven Elementary School. Our typical Wednesday night meetings consist of learning Scout skills, working on advancement and merit badges and planning upcoming campouts and other activities. Troop 4 typically has at least one camping trip every month between September and April. Additionally, a group of Scouts attend the various Boy Scouts of America Summer Camps offered all across the country. We usually choose a summer camp that the troop attends for one week during the summer.

Tips for Staying Warm at a Winter Campout

1. Toes cold? Put on a hat. Your body loses up to halfof its total heat in 40-degree temperatures. So, when it’s below freezing andyour head is uncovered, you could be radiating more than three-fourths of youroverall body heat from your head.

3. Beware of frosty fuel. Pouring fuel into a stove?Put on a pair of thick rubber gloves. If it’s sub-zero outside, so is the fuel(since it doesn’t freeze like water). Spill it on your hands and you will haveinstant frostbite.

4. Baggy clothes are back in style — at leastin the freezing-cold wilderness. Your body heats itself most efficiently whenit’s enveloped in a layer of warm air. If your clothes are too tight, you’restrangling the cold right out of your body. Dressing in loose layers helps aidthis convection layer of air. Tight clothes or too-tight boots can alsorestrict blood-flow.

5. The three W’s: Every cold-weather camper needs todress for the occasion. You’ll need a wicking layer (long underwear), a “warm”layer (fleece) and a “wind” layer (waterproof shell).

6. Bundle up! It might be a phrase often heardfrom your mother, but mom is right about this one. If you’re moving aroundoutdoors in the cold and suddenly stop to eat lunch or take a break, put yourwarmer layers on — even if you’re not cold. This change in activity will causeyour body heat to plummet. Preempt the cold with an extra layer.

7. Fuel the fire. Feeling cold? Eat a snack. Stayingwarm is just like keeping a fire burning; every fire needs a steady supply ofslow-burning fuel. Unlike a fire, you’re body will also need lots of water tohelp digest food and stay hydrated.

8. Wet feet? Grab a bag — a bread bag, that is.The long plastic bag can stretch over your foot and serve as a liner betweenyour sock and your boot.